US Receives $4.26 Million Gift
"This remarkable gift reflects Jim's eight-decade relationship with the school," said Headmaster Steve Murray. "He was a brilliant man -- an inventor, engineer, and software developer. His gift will be devoted to bringing exciting upgrades to our academic facilities at the Hunting Valley Campus to ensure that our teachers and students have the most compelling and up-to-date labs, art studios, and seminar rooms in Northeast Ohio.
Click here to read The Plain Dealer's story on the bequest.
Mr. Williamson attended Yale University for his undergraduate studies and for graduate school where he earned a Master's degree in electrical engineering. He worked at Ohio Crankshaft for a decade and became a pioneer in using the computer to help his next employer, the Magnethermic Corporation in Warren, Ohio, now Ajax Tocco Magnethermic, to develop new methods of manufacturing. When he first proposed the purchase of a computer, however, there wasn't the budget for such an unusual $250,000 capital expense. It didn't deter Mr. Williamson. As legend goes, he bought one with his own money and moved it into the company. The software program Y16 (Youngstown version 16) that Jim wrote, is still in use at Ajax today.
As a young man, James Williamson tutored John F. Kennedy in math when he was in high school.
Mr. Williamson lived in Canfield, Ohio, before his death at the age of 93 in 2009.
The Williamson family has a long history in the Cleveland area. James' father, Arthur Williamson, was Chairman of Society of Savings, now Key Bank. An inventor in his own right, Arthur developed the modern valve stem for the automobile tire and sold millions of his invention to Akron tire companies. James' great uncle, Judge Samuel Williamson, was the first chairman of the board of University School, a position he served until his death in 1903.
